FairPrice, Singapore’s supermarket chain, has introduced a new trial at its outlet in Punggol Digital District to make shopping more seamless using automation and AI. One of the key features is the automated application of discounts for customers who hold government-financial assistance cards (e.g. those under CHAS or Pioneer Generation). Instead of showing a physical card to staff, these customers will have their financial scheme discounts applied automatically at self-checkout counter using the FairPrice App, which verifies eligibility via Singapore’s MyInfo system.
The trial is available to a subset of the FairPrice App’s ~340,000 users who have updated their profiles to include details from MyInfo, a one-time Singpass verification. The aim is to reduce friction and mistakes, for example when customers bring the wrong card or discount isn’t applied correctly.
Beyond automated discounts, FairPrice is also testing in-store AI assistants. These include tools to help with product recommendations, such as a “Unity Recommender” that suggests health supplements and wines, based on a short body-composition test or customer’s tastes. Smart carts are also being trialed. These are trolleys with touchscreens and bar code scanners that help shoppers locate products, show promotions as they walk, and even allow checkout without queuing.
This store is part of FairPrice’s wider plan where over 60 digital innovations will be trialled across three years in the Punggol outlet, with the potential for successful measures to roll out across its network of supermarkets, food courts, convenience stores and pharmacies. The broader goals are improved operational efficiency, freeing staff from manual, repetitive tasks, boosting customer convenience, and building trust in tech-enabled shopping.
(Source: The Straits Times)
